Air conditioning chassis grounding system

ABSTRACT

A grounding arrangement for an air conditioner having an outer metal cabinet adapted to be positioned in a room opening and a refrigeration system mounted on an inner moulded electrically insulated chassis removably arranged in the cabinet. A ground is provided between the refrigeration system and the outer cabinet that is effective when the electrically insulated chassis is positioned in the cabinet.

United States Patent 1191 Ballard 1 Oct. 1, 1974 [5 AIR CONDITIONING CHASSIS 3,467,938 9/1969 Johr 174/51 GROUNDING SYSTEM 3,663,919 5/1972 .Iaconette 174/51 Inventor:

James L. Ballard, Ellicott City, Md.

General Electric Company, Louisville, Ky.

Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 415,150

Assignee:

US. Cl 62/262, 174/51, 62/531, 62/298 Int. Cl F25d 23/12 Field of Search 62/262, 298; 174/51 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,755 5/1953 Borgerd 62/262 Primary Examiner-William J. Wye Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Francis H. Boos 5 7 ABSTRACT A grounding arrangement for an air conditioner having an outer metal cabinet adapted to be positioned in a room opening and a refrigeration system mounted on an inner moulded electrically insulated chassis removably arranged in the cabinet. A ground is provided between the refrigeration system and the outer cabinet that is effective when the electrically insulated chassis is positioned in the cabinet.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures I AIR CONDITIONING CHASSIS GROUNDING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION connected to a power source. The grounding system of the present invention includes an electrical conductive grounding means on the base pan that is connected to the grounded refrigeration system components. The grounding means is arranged to intimately contact the outer cabinet when the chassis is positioned in the outer cabinet to effect an electrical ground between the refrigeration system components and the outer case. The grounding of the outer cabinet is especially critical during insertion or removal of the chassis and during those instances when the chassis is partly out of the cabinet and some of the electrically operable refrigeration system components are exposed. In these situations where the air conditioner unit may be connected to the power source a person exposed to the refrigeration system components may contact a portion of the chassis that may be electrically hot and the outer cabinet thereby creating a potentially hazardous condition.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many room air conditioners of the type having outer cases fabricated of electrically conductive material have in the past been provided with a removably positioned chassis that were also fabricated from electrically conductive material so that grounding of the outer cabinet was effected by the chassis contacting the outer case. In air conditioners such as disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention wherein the base pan of the chassis is conveniently formed from sheet molded compounds that are electrically insulated, the ground connection between the outer case and the chassis is not automatic. In accordance with the electrical codes in many areas of the country a ground must be pro vided for the outer case. The present invention, therefore, provides a means for grounding the outer case that is convenient and economical while lending itself to mass production methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By this invention there is provided a room air conditioner, and more particularly, an air conditioner including an outer cabinet constructed of electrical conductive material that is adapted to be arranged in a room opening, and an inner chassis member constructed of electrically insulated material that is removably positioned in the outer cabinet. Mounted on the chassis is the refrigeration system which is adapted to be connected to a source of electric power and is electrically grounded. An electrically conductive grounding member is secured to the chassis and is electrically connected to the refrigeration system. The grounding member is arranged to contact the cabinet to provide LII an electric ground connection between the outer cabinet and refrigeration system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a side elevational view partly in section of an air conditioning unit incorporating one embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the grounding member of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section view showing a second embodiment of a grounding member of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated an air conditioner 10 which is arranged to be positioned within an opening in an enclosure (not shown). The unit includes a cabinet or outside wall sleeve 12 arranged in a wall opening. The outside wall sleeve 12, as is customary. is fabricated from sheet metal material and includes side walls, top and bottom walls, and a back wall defining a front opening 14 disposed in enclosure to be air conditioned. Arranged along the bottom wall of the sleeve 12, and adjacent each of the side walls. are a pair of tracks or receiving members 16. A chassis 18 is removably positioned in the cabinet 12 and arranged to slide along the track members 16. The chassis 18 includes a support member or base pan 17 conveniently molded formed from electrically insulating plastic material such as glass filled polyester resin and a refrigeration system which in accordance to established codes and safety practice is connected to ground. The refrigeration system is supported on the base pan l7 and includes the usual compressor 20, evaporator 22, and condenser 24.

As mentioned hereinabove the chassis l8, and more specifically, the electrically insulated base pan 17 comes in direct contact with the metal cabinet 12 when the chassis 18 is positioned in the cabinet 12 and during its insertion or removal therefrom. In effect the electrically insulated material of base pan l7 electrically isolates the cabinet from the chassis 18 so that the cabinet is not connected to ground, thus, creating a possible hazardous condition.

Accordingly, by the present invention a grounding means 32 is provided on the base pan 17 which effectively connects the metallic outer cabinet 12 to the grounded refrigeration system components. To this end in one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1-3 there is formed in the base pan 17 a recess 34 having its open end arranged to communicate with each of the track members 16 on the outer cabinet 12. Located in the recess 34 is a frustro-conical or cup-shaped grounding member 36. The grounding member 36- as seen in FIG. 2 is arranged in an inverted position having its closed end fastened in the base wall of the recess 34 by a suitable bolt 38 which is secured to a metal support member 40 communicating with the refrigeration components. The open end of the cup-shaped grounding member 36 as seen in FIG. 3 is provided circumferentially along the peripheral end of the member 36 with serrated sawtoothed contact means 42. The grounding member 36 is dimensioned relative to the recess 34 so that the contact means 42 project beyond the surface of the bottom wall of the base pan 17. As can be easily understood, when the chassis 18 is inserted into the outer case 12 the projecting contact means 42 of the grounding member 36 will contact and bite into the track members 16 formed in the outer case 12 and form an effective electrical ground connection between the metallic outer case and the refrigeration components mounted on the plastic base pan 17. The weight of the chassis 18 is sufficient to cause the teeth of the contact means 42 to bite through any paint or other material that may be on the track 16 to form an electrical conductive ground connection between the outer cabinet 12 and the grounded refrigeration system components mounted on the plastic base pan 17.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention wherein parts identical to those of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 are shown by the same numerals.

In this embodiment the grounding member is formed from a flat sheet metal member 44 and is located on the bottom wall of the base pan 17. One end of the grounding member 44 is secured by suitable screws 46 to a frame member 48 of the refrigeration system. The other end is bent upwardly and is received in a recess 50 formed in the base pan 17. Referring now to FIG.

5, the grounding member 44 is provided with substantially pointed contact means 52 formed on the member 44. The pointed contact means 52 projects below the base pan 17 to effectively bite into the track members 16 to provide a ground connection between the outer case 12 and the grounded refrigeration system components in the manner of the embodiment of FIGS. 13.

In summary, the location of the grounding member and more particularly, the contact means provide a connection to ground for the outer case 12 when the chassis is properly located therein. However, it should be understood that the outer case is connected to ground as long as the contact member is in engagement with the track on the outer case. This arrangement eliminates a hazardous situation in the event the chassis is partially pulled out of the case while the air conditioner is connected to the power source.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, there has been described what, at present, is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material supporting a refrigeration system including electrical conductive components connected to ground, the improvement comprising:

means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan connected to said refrigeration system components; and contact means on said grounding member projecting from said base pan to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.

2. An air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material and a refrigeration system having electrical conductive components connected to ground. the improvement comprising:

means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan connected to said refrigeration system components;

a recess formed in the base pan communicating with said cabinet for receiving said grounding member;

and

contact means on said grounding member projecting from said recess to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.

3. An air conditioner as recited in claim 2, wherein the grounding member is cup-shaped and said contact means being formed circumferentially along the open end of said member.

4. An air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material, a refrigeration system mounted on said chassis having electrical conductive components connected to ground including an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser and fan means including a fan motor and outdoor and indoor fans for respectively circulating air through said evaporator and through said condenser. the improvement comprising:

means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan being connected to said refrigeration system components; and

contact means on said grounding member projecting from said base pan to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.

5. An air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material, a refrigeration system mounted on said chassis having electrical conductive components connected to ground including an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, and fan means including a fan motor and outdoor and indoor fans for respectively circulating air through said evaporator and through said condenser, the improvement comprising:

means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan being connected to said refrigeration system components;

LII

said refrigeration system components. 6. An air conditioner as recited in claim 5, wherein the grounding member is cup-shaped and said contact means being formed circumferentially along the open end of said member.

l l l 

1. In an air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material supporting a refrigeration system including electrical conductive components connected to ground, the improvement comprising: means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan connected to said refrigeration system components; and contact means on said grounding member projecting from said base pan to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.
 2. An air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material and a refrigeration system having electrical conductive components connected to ground, the improvement comprising: means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan connected to said refrigeration system components; a recess formed in the base pan communicating with said cabinet for receiving said grounding member; and contact means on said grounding member projecting from said recess to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.
 3. An air conditioner as recited in claim 2, wherein the grounding member is cup-shaped and said contact means being formed circumferentially along the open end of said member.
 4. An air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical Conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material, a refrigeration system mounted on said chassis having electrical conductive components connected to ground including an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser and fan means including a fan motor and outdoor and indoor fans for respectively circulating air through said evaporator and through said condenser, the improvement comprising: means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan being connected to said refrigeration system components; and contact means on said grounding member projecting from said base pan to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.
 5. An air conditioner having an outer cabinet of electrical conductive material having an opening at one end thereof, an inner chassis removably positioned in said cabinet, including a base pan of electrically insulating material, a refrigeration system mounted on said chassis having electrical conductive components connected to ground including an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, and fan means including a fan motor and outdoor and indoor fans for respectively circulating air through said evaporator and through said condenser, the improvement comprising: means for grounding said cabinet including an electrical conductive grounding member on said base pan being connected to said refrigeration system components; a recess formed in the base pan communicating with said cabinet for receiving said grounding member; and contact means on said grounding member projecting from said recess to engage said cabinet when said chassis is inserted into said cabinet through said opening to electrically ground said cabinet through said refrigeration system components.
 6. An air conditioner as recited in claim 5, wherein the grounding member is cup-shaped and said contact means being formed circumferentially along the open end of said member. 